Lord of the Flies: Summary
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Introduction |
Lord of the Flies is one of the most complicated books we could throw at you. On one hand, it appears very simple and straightforward. Some boys get stuck on a desert island. On the other hand, it has more than it's share of complications. |
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Table of Contents |
We will cover the following topics while we do this work. |
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Topic |
See Page |
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Lord of the Flies; Quick and Dirty |
F-3 |
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Fussel; Postscript on Japanese Skulls |
F-4 |
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Yeats; The Second Coming |
F-6 |
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Lord of the Flies 1 |
F-8 |
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Lord of the Flies 2 |
F-11 |
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Lord of the Flies 3 |
F-14 |
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Lord of the Flies 4 |
F-16 |
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Lord of the Flies 5 |
F-19 |
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Lord of the Flies 6 |
F-23 |
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Lord of the Flies 7 |
F-25 |
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Lord of the Flies 8 |
F-28 |
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Lord of the Flies 9 |
F-32 |
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Lord of the Flies 10 |
F-34 |
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Lord of the Flies 11 |
F-36 |
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Lord of the Flies 12 |
F-39 |
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Mending Wall |
F-43 |
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Lord of the Flies Mapping |
F-45 |
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How To Do a Group Test |
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Lord of the Flies Group Test |
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Lord of the Flies Exam |
F-51 |
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Feedback |
F-55 |
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Lord of the Flies; Preview Questions
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Introduction |
Lord of the Flies is an interesting and disturbing book that looks at childhood and innocence from a radically different point of view. |
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Thought Questions |
In your groups, try to answer the following questions. • If you were to put your English class on a deserted, tropical island, what would happen.
Assume that there is plenty of fruit and no natural predators. • When you watch little kids (fourth, fifth, sixth grade) play together, are they nice to each other? Explain. • What is the cruelest, meanest thing you have ever seen done? Why? • Have you ever been hunting? Why did you go? How did it feel when (or if) you got something? Explain. • Have you ever been alone, outside, in the dark? How did it feel? |
Lord of the Flies: Quick and Dirty
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Introduction |
A Quick and Dirty is a research tactic. Instead of lecturing, I ask you to find this information and present it to the class. You will write a one page brief. A brief is a legal document that briefly states the facts of the case and anything important or relevant. Yours may either be in written form or in an outline. |
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Instructions |
The following are the instructions for doing a Quick and Dirty. |
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Action |
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1 |
Get the assignment from the teacher |
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2 |
Figure out everyone's roles in the group |
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3 |
Begin Research If you are using.... Then.... Encyclopedias Go to the Index Volume Other books Go to the Index first On-Line search Use your topic as a keyword |
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4 |
Someone handwrites the notes |
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5 |
When complete, someone edits the notes so that only important details are there |
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Someone then takes the final draft and computerizes it. |
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Topics |
The following are the topics for the Quick and Dirty. |
• Mephistopheles
• Auschwitz
• Coral Island by Ballantyne
• Rwanda
• Battle for Guadalcanal
• William Golding
Fussel: Postscript on Japanese Skulls
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Introduction |
As Americans, we are lucky to have avoided war on our own soil for over one hundred years. With that time, we forget the atrocities that happen to other people, or that happen in a war. This fragment of a letter should help clear that up. This article comes after another article, where Fussel said "Thank God for the Atom Bomb." His argument was that the atom bomb stopped the invasion of Japan and all the death. |
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Questions |
Please read Fussel's article and answer the following questions. • According to Fussel's article, what was a "much-envied" wartime trophy? Why does the former Private disbelieve this? Why would he want to disbelieve this? • What proof does Fussel provide for his argument?
Who are Jackie Cooper and Holden Caulfield? What is the mission of war (p. 48) • According to Fussel, why did American troops do this? • How did American soldiers do this? • How did many Americans back home react to this during the war? What tone did Lindbergh use when he described them? What tone does Fussel use? Why is that an odd choice? |
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• What does Edward Jones say about how American behaved in war? Why does Jones say this? What does he want Americans to remember? Why? Do you think anything similar happened during the Gulf War? Explain. • Knowing all of this, do you think Fussel would agree with the statement: "People, down in their soul, are intrinsically good." |
Yeats; The Second Coming
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Introduction |
This is a bizarre and very well-known, oft-quoted poem that has an immediate effect on this novel. Yeats believed that history moved in thousand year cycles and, after World Wars I and II, that the Western or European era was ending. From the chaos of that end would come a new beginning. |
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Questions |
Read the attached poem and answer the questions • The image of the falcon and the falconer begins the poem. Draw a picture of what Yeats means? What happens over time, as the bird gets further away from the falconer? Define the word "Gyre" • When the center cannot hold, what happens? • What happens to the ceremony of innocence? What drowns it? What could be an example of an innocent ceremony? • What is happening to the world? What happens to the "best"? What happens to the "worst" |
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• What is "The Second Coming"? What is supposed to happen there? • What image does Yeats see out in the desert? Why is it having a nightmare? Why is a cradle doing it? • Where in the world, today, are "things falling apart"? • How is Blake's Tiger similar to Yeat's "Beast" |
Lord of the Flies: Chapter 1
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Introduction |
The first chapter is set up with great care and caution. Watch closely, because the author wants you to think things that just aren't so. |
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Chapter 1: Sound of the Shell |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. What is "the scar" Why does Golding choose that word? 2. How did all the kids get there? Did all the kids make it to the island? 3. How is Ralph unfriendly to Piggy? Why? 4. Where is the darkness on the island? What is darkness a metaphor for? 5. What does Piggy want to do with the boys. |
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Is Ralph interested? Explain. What does Ralph think is going to happen? 6. What does Ralph imitate as he calls "Piggy" Why is that important? Is Ralph an innocent person? 7. How does Piggy upset Ralph |
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8. What is all over Ralph and his face in the first chapter? Why might that be important? What does light stand for? What does darkness? 9. How does Johnny sit below Ralph? What does the little boy expect? Why does he choose Ralph? 10. How are the kids acting now? What were they doing in the forest? 11. How do you know that Merridew (Jack) is up to no good? 12. What makes Ralph attractive as a leader? Is this a good quality? What would be good qualities in a leader? At this moment, would Jack make a good leader? Explain. 13. Why do they make one leader and not a council of three? How could that be a problem later? |
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14. Ralph has the Conch, what does Jack have? How is that effective? What does the Conch symbolize? What does the knife symbolize? 15. What excites them on the expedition? What do they do on the way to the top? What about this expedition makes it less than innocent kid stuff? 16. Why doesn't Jack kill the pig? Why is this incident so ominous? What is the main emotion Jack feels? |
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Writing |
Have you ever been really embarrassed in front of people. what did you do next? |
Lord of the Flies; Chapter 2
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Introduction |
Ralph starts to organize things and the world looks good. The name "Ralph", by the way, means "consent" or "agreement." But there is fire.... |
Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain
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6. What do they all run off to do? What does Ralph want the kids to think about? What does Jack want the kids to think about? 7. How do the kids work? What is their general manner if given a task? Why doesn't Piggy like it? 8. What part of the wood gathering has been done successfully? What went into it? 9. How do they light the fire? What do the little ones see in it? Why is that important? Who comes up with the idea of using the glasses? 10. Why is Jack important to the group? How is Piggy a little useless? How does Piggy feel? As a result, how does he act? 11. Personification is where an inhuman thing is given human qualities. What is given human qualities on page 44? |
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12. What sensible things does Piggy say? Why don't Ralph and Jack like him? Complete the quote: "How can you expect to be rescued_____ __________________________proper?" Explain. 13. Who is missing? Where is he? What does Golding mean by the drum roll? |
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Writing |
Which should the boys have done first? shelters or the fire? What would you have done? |
Lord of the Flies; Chapter 3
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Introduction |
Jack ("one who supplants or takes over by force")begins to have even more of an effect in this section. Simon (Hebrew for "listener") also becomes important here. See how they approach the jungle differently. |
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Chapter 3: Huts on the Beach |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. What is Jack doing? How long have they been on the island? What is he being compared to? 2. What is the Jungle like? What is the most oppressive part of the jungle? Since Jack is starting to become comfortable in the jungle, what does that show? 3. What are Jack and Simon trying to do? Why aren't they successful? What are the littl'uns doing? Psychologically, why are the shelters important? 4. How are Ralph and Jack similar? How does Ralph annoy Jack? Why do they want meat? |
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5. What are the littl'uns afraid of? What is Ralph's solution? What is Jack's? The Beastie (and snakes) have become unmentionable. Why is naming things important? 6. Where does Simon go? What role is he starting to take on in the story? Why is it important that he slips away from the ground? How does Golding use light in this section? How is the jungle for Simon different than the Jungle for Jack (look at the beginning of the chapter.) 7 What flowers bloom at night? What does that show about the jungle? |
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Writing |
• Is Ralph right in how he addresses the Littl'uns fear? • Is Jack right? • What would be a good path of action for both of them? • If Jack symbolizes darkness and chaos, Ralph lightness and order, what does Simon symbolize? |
Lord of the Flies; Chapter 4
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Introduction |
A chance for rescue passes by unheeded, while hunting goes on and Piggy loses something dear to him. |
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Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. What rhythm is the island in? How do the boys measure time? What does this show about their civilization? In describing the day, what else is Golding describing? Explain. 2. How do the littl'uns act? How have they lost civilization? Would Ulysses be this way? 3. What does Roger do to Henry? Why? Why doesn't he hit him? How is Roger described? How is Golding using the metaphor of darkness? What was Henry doing while he was being "shelled"? Golding says "he was exercising control over living things" Why would Henry want to do that? |
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4. Masks are powerful things. Why? How does Jack show this? What does a mask allow you to do? How does Jack feel with the mask on? Quote 5. What does Ralph see on the horizon? What had be been doing before it? 6. Why do they know, even before they get there,, that the fire went out? Why did Jack let the fire out? Why did Ralph not notice? 7. What are the hunters chanting as they approach? What does the killing show? Who is carrying the pig? "We needed meat." Why? 8. What does Jack break? Why? What do the glasses symbolize? 9. Simon says that he is afraid. Why? |
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10. Does Ralph eat any pig? Does Piggy? How does he get it? How is Jack using the meat? 11. What do they do after they eat? How does that show savageness? |
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Writing |
• How does Golding use hair color and clothing to show the kids? • What will they look like in another three months? |
Lord of the Flies; Chapter 5
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Introduction |
The break has been made and Ralph and Jack's friendship is gone, while Piggy is getting more important. The meetings start to slip away... Irony is ______________________________________________________ |
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Chapter 5: Beast from the Water |
Read the passage and answer the questions fully. use another sheet of paper. 1. How is Ralph different now from the way he was the first time he walked the beach? How does Golding use hair symbolically here? 2. What is the tone of the meeting? What does Ralph want to talk about? How have they forgotten their jobs? 3. Where do the littl'uns go to the bathroom? What does that show about them? Why shouldn't they go near the fruit? 4. Complete the quote; "We've got to have smoke up there__________" Explain. Ralph also says that the smoke is more important than the pig. How is he right? How is he wrong? Why should he have ended his speech when Jack wants the Conch? |
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5. What does Jack say to the assembly? How is he being sensible? 6. What does Phil tell them about? Why is it a mistake to talk about the Beast when they do? What happens to Percival? When he remembers his name, what does that show? Where does he think the beast is? 7. How are the little kids starting to behave? Why? 8. Simon comes up with a dangerous idea. What is it? Who does he think the beast is? Explain. 9. How does the meeting end? Why do the kids do that? 10. What do they wish for at the end of the chapter? Why? 11. What does Percival do in the middle of the night? Why? |
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Writing |
• How might Ralph have kept the meeting focused? • Why is Piggy afraid? |